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Google campaign for the Starbucks Delocator
In a recent post, we noted that the artist collective Finishing School recently launched a website that shows people places they can go in their local area to find cafes that aren't Starbucks. It's a great idea and one we support. The only problem is that Finishing School signed an agreement with the San Francisco Art Institute saying that they won't use the name "Starbucks" in the website name (presumably to avoid legal action from Starbucks), so the site is called "Delocator" instead of Starbucks Delocator. This means that links to the site won't show up in search engines when people search for Starbucks... unless we can launch a google campaign. So here it is:
Bloggers and webmasters: If you want to support local cafes and other alternatives to Starbucks, please link to this site and name the links Starbucks Delocator. With help, we can move it up on Google in no time.
(Thanks to Nicholas Reville @ Downhill Battle)
Posted by carrie on 04/04/2005 | Permalink
Comments
I went ahead and registered StarbucksDelocator.com and StarbucksLocator.com and pointed them to delocator.net...
Posted by: Scott Trudeau | Apr 5, 2005 5:59:13 PM
What about the research that indicates that Starbucks actually increases the likelihood (http://www.wweek.com/story.php?story=5137) of a 'local' coffeehouse to open? Unlike B&N, who people claimed would drive independent bookstores out of business -- and there is a measurable correlation to that -- there is only anecdotal evidence one the same about Starbucks. Given that coffeehouses, particularly 'independent' ones, are operated by folks who are, um, not the most business savvy folk, it's hard to point the presence of Starbucks as the causation. The East Village, to riff Hartely a bit, goes through coffee shops like some people go through underwear, yet the Evil Mermaid has yet to push East of 2nd Ave. Meanwhile, Mud is thriving in the crux of what, four Starbucks. In fact, it if weren't for them, they probably would have never thought to place a coffee truck right in the backyard of the enemy. And Starbucks provides the best wage and benefit package of any food chain, except for perhaps In & Out. I personally never drink Starbucks, and we co-exist peacefully in mutual disinterest. They do a nice service of providing bathrooms throughout the city, and I find that those who get all exercised about Starbucks frequent far more often, usually with the lame excuse of pervasiveness. I know you aren't critizing the idea of Starbucks itself but the delocator is, in a pretty simplistic, college student sort of way. They at least should come up with their own logo.
Posted by: Miss Representation | Apr 6, 2005 8:48:13 AM
